The Parks Department, Public Works Department, and City of Lakewood have planned for public investments in the neighborhood to improve residential and community life. The City wants its residents to feel confident in our commitment to creating better roads, more attractive parks, and a high standard of living for all residents.

Springbrook is located in the southeast portion of Lakewood, isolated by I-5. The neighborhood is a roughly triangular sector, bounded by Joint Base Lewis McChord to the south and to the east, and I-5 to the northwest. Historically, the Springbrook neighborhood has struggled with problems surrounding poverty; symptoms stem from a lack of transportation access into and out of the neighborhood, as well as a lack of supportive communal spaces that can sustain physical health, civic engagement, and community-building. New efforts by Parks and Public Works are intended to address those problems.

Springbrook Park is an open playfield and serves as a gathering space for residents. The park often hosts sports activities for children, community block parties and other events. The community quickly began to test the capacity of the park-- due to its small size, the park space could only support one activity at a time. To expand capacity, the City purchased additional land next to the park, expanding space by another an acre. Kids and adults can play soccer on the playfield now, which the previous baseball diamond did not support. A new misting structure allows kids playing in the summertime to stay cool without subverting the nearby sprinkler system. The design positions the playfields in the center of new playgrounds structures, new community garden space, a new picnic area, and parking compliant with ADA standards.

The park has historically been a community gathering place for a wide audience: from children and adults to organizations like First Lions, Kiwanis Club, St Leo Food Connection, Boys and Girls Club, and Springbrook Connection to name a few. The space supports a weekly food bank, seasonal community dinners and more. The new area will support more activities, more people and new educational programming on the environmental surroundings. Springbrook Park extends to Clover Creek and will connect to the north side of Springbrook over the water with a pedestrian bridge. This bridge will provide greater access to Lakewood Sound Transit to the north via 47th Ave SW, and to commercial spaces along Bridgeport Way.

Bridgeport Way serves as the artery to the neighborhood, not too far west from Springbrook Park. The roughly $3 million dollars in upgrades bolsters the capacity of the road to serve more people over a longer span of time. The design expands the access for people on foot or in their vehicles, and alleviates stress on the environment. New bicycle lanes, sidewalks, traffic signals and street lighting allow for non-motorized transportation to move through safely throughout the day. A continuous center lane for left-turning drivers helps to keep traffic moving forward, into and through the neighborhood. New curbs, gutters, landscaping and storm drainage anchor the right-of-way to keep the land and water clean. The improvement of this asset helps to support the residents of Springbrook in their daily life. The road supports community and civic engagements, and they support national security efforts from our military neighbor to our Southern perimeter, and they support investments from the private market.

As these improvements come online, we envision the local residential and civic culture sustained into the future. We know that these investments directly impact the social and economic aspects of the neighborhood. The Springbrook community has shown leadership and responsibility, and the City of Lakewood hopes that private business and development recognizes those efforts in the future as well.

The funeral procession to honor fallen Tacoma Police Officer Reginald “Jake” Gutierrez will be held December 9, 2016, beginning at approximately 10:30 AM. The procession will travel from Joint Base Lewis-McChord along South Tacoma Way to the Tacoma Dome.

The Tacoma Police Department asks that if you are required to drive through any of the affected areas to please seek an alternate route. Road closures and traffic congestion is expected throughout the day. Roads will be open along the procession route, prior to the procession start time. During the procession, the route will be closed to non-procession related traffic.

Businesses along the procession route should expect traffic congestion for several hours. The procession route is expected to be clear by 3 PM.

The procession route is as follows:

Leave Joint Base Lewis-McChord, North Gate, north on South Tacoma Way Extension.

(Right turn) North on South Tacoma Way (The procession will stop at South Tacoma Way and Pine Street to allow the Tacoma Police Department family to join the procession.)

(Right turn) East D Street, Tacoma

The memorial service will begin at 1 PM, at the Tacoma Dome (2727 E. D St.). The memorial service is open to the public. More information will follow regarding parking and transportation to the Tacoma Dome, as parking at the Tacoma Dome will be reserved for emergency response personnel.

The Tacoma Police Department is grateful for the tremendous outpouring of support from the community during this difficult time. For information regarding flowers, donations, and other details please refer to the Tacoma Police Department's press release
.

This year's event will feature a new route for the parade - yes,the same one that ends with a visit from Santa Claus himself. Unlike previous years, the parade - which begins at 5:30 p.m., and lasts about 15 minutes - will run along 59th Street Southwest at Lakewood Towne Center.

It will begin toward the area next to 24-Hour Fitness and end at the roundabout near Lakewood Towne Center, where the annual lighting of the Christmas tree will take place.

The City of Lakewood encourages event-goers to watch the parade along 59th Street and to wave "Hi" to everyone featured in the parde.

Of course, there will be plenty of other opportunities for Christmas cheer at this free, family friendly event will come aplenty. Some of the scheduled fun includes:

Check out entries in the City’s first “Inspiring Young Creators” Competition . The LEGO-inspired creativity and imagination of our community’s youth will be on display, piece by piece.

Christmas music and carols from the Clover Park High marching band, Lakes High Studio Choir, Mann Middle School Choir.

The talents of the Charisma Dancers.

Arts, crafts and “Minute-To-Win-It” games for youth and youth-at-heart.

As always, a Christmas parade in front of City Hall and a visit by the Kringle-y One himself, Santa Claus!

In Lakewood, the annual Tree-Lighting signals the start of the Christmas season. Join your neighbors and help us welcome the holidays on Dec. 2.

On Nov. 29, 2016, the Lakewood Police Department will be accepting food donations as part of the 7th Annual Fallen Officers Food Drive.

The effort - which is organized by the Lakewood Officers' Charity - benefits the Emergency Food Network (EFN). Volunteers will assist those who want to donate items from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., at the Lakewood Police Department, 9401 Lakewood Dr. SW.

Those who can't make it to the collection event can still drop off food donations from Nov. 28 to Dec. 2 at the Lakewood Police Department or Lakewood City Hall, 6000 Main St. SW.

Photographs from the 7th Annual Fallen Officers Food Drive

On Nov. 7, 2016, the Lakewood City Council unanimously approved a resolution officially recognizing the vital role and public purpose of the Lakewood Community Foundation Fund.

The Lakewood Community Foundation Fund – a donor-advised fund of The Greater Tacoma Community Foundation – was formed as a 501 (c)(3) charitable organization by the Lakewood Rotary Club and Clover Park Rotary Club to address critical needs in Lakewood and to serve Lakewood residents more directly, especially its neediest.

About the Lakewood Community Foundation Fund

The two Rotary clubs wanted to be more Lakewood-oriented in their charitable efforts, and all the money raised benefits Lakewood organizations and citizens.

The Foundation’s goal is to establish a $1 million endowment in order to fund projects and scholarships to benefit children, families and charities in Lakewood. The $1 million endowment should generate $50,000 or more each year for grants to deserving students and charities that work to meet the needs of Lakewood’s low-income population.

In 1999, the Foundation received a remarkable gift from Lakewood resident Marianna Shaw before her death from cancer. Widowed the previous year, one disabled son already deceased and another cared for in perpetuity through a trust, Marianna directed her Executor to divide her remaining estate equally to serve four areas: her church, her late husband’s alma mater, cancer research, and her community.

Neither well-to-do nor well known in Lakewood, Marianna left the surprising sum of $85,000 to the Lakewood Community Foundation Fund. She was confident that this relatively unknown organization would make good choice about how best to serve her fellow Lakewood residents, especially the neediest.

Since Marianna’s gift in 1999, the Lakewood Community Foundation Fund has received several gifts of $50,000 or more, along with countless smaller donations, raising the current asset value to over $800,000.

To date, the Foundation has made more than $94,000 in community grants, $25,000 in student scholarships, and facilitated more the $300,000 in specific community projects .

The Foundation Fund is governed by a nine-member board
of volunteer directors: three from Lakewood Rotary Club, three from Clover Park Rotary Club and three community representatives.

Resolution

A RESOLUTION of the City Council of the City of Lakewood, Washington, recognizing the vital role and public purpose of the Lakewood Community Foundation Fund.

WHEREAS, the City of Lakewood, Washington established in 1996, and ever dedicated and striving to perfect those values and attributes of vital and flourishing urban community within its jurisdiction and authority, to include beautification, improvement or maintenance of public spaces and rights of way within the City of Lakewood, Washington; and,

WHEREAS, since incorporation, volunteers have expended significant amounts of time and energy to further promote the aesthetic enhancement of different areas of the City, including major intersections and traffic islands, making a significant beneficial difference for the entire City; and,

WHEREAS, the Lakewood Community Foundation Fund, operating as a donor advised fund of The Greater Tacoma Community Foundation, is formed to promote the enrichment, vitality and cultural heritage of community, with exclusive dedication to Lakewood, Washington; and,

WHEREAS, the collaboration of all parties to these ends are of mutual benefit to the City of Lakewood, its citizens and prospects, to include its Arts & Culture, Education, Environment, its Parks & Recreation, and the Well- Being of its People (its Social Capital); and,

WHEREAS, in recognition of the public benefit achieved by the Lakewood Community Foundation Fund in partnership with the City of Lakewood to ensure continued funding, it is desirable to formally acknowledge the valued public purpose of the organization;

NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAKEWOOD, WASHINGTON, HEREBY RESOLVES as Follows:

Section 1. That, as funding for the Lakewood Community Foundation Fund is used to the exclusive public benefit of the City of Lakewood, the City of Lakewood hereby recognizes the Lakewood Community Foundation as serving a public purpose and hereby establishes a partnership with the Lakewood Community Foundation Fund for public improvement and service to the City of Lakewood community.

Section 2. Effective Date. That this Resolution shall be in full force and effect upon passage and signatures hereon.